West Indies powerhouse Andre Russell has officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, marking the end of an era for the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. The Jamaican all-rounder, who delivered countless memorable performances for KKR over 11 seasons, revealed his decision on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
From Power Hitter to Power Coach
The timing of Russell's announcement coincides with the final day for player registrations for the upcoming IPL auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. While Russell won't be putting his name in the auction pool, his connection with KKR remains strong. The franchise has appointed him as their 'power coach,' a role that perfectly aligns with his explosive playing style.
In a heartfelt video message, Russell explained his decision: "I've made a decision to retire from the IPL. I'll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises. I had some amazing time and great memories - hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things. But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots."
Building a Legacy Beyond Playing
Russell emphasized his desire to retire while still at the top of his game, stating he preferred fans wondering "why, you still have some more in you" rather than suggesting he should have retired earlier. His remarkable IPL career with KKR saw him achieve what few all-rounders have accomplished.
Russell is one of only two players in IPL history to score over 2,000 runs and take more than 100 wickets, with Ravindra Jadeja being the other. His statistics with KKR are particularly impressive: over 2,600 runs, 120-plus wickets, 220 sixes, and a staggering strike rate of 174.96 across 133 appearances.
KKR's New Coaching Structure
Russell's transition to coaching comes as part of KKR's broader backroom staff revamp. The franchise has made several significant changes to their support team:
- Abhishek Nayar replaces Chandrakant Pandit as head coach
- Tim Southee takes over as bowling coach
- Shane Watson joins as assistant coach
- Dwayne Bravo continues as team mentor
Russell expressed excitement about his new 'power coach' role, noting: "When I heard that name, I said, 'power coach, hmmm'. That describes Dre Russ because the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field, with the ball in hand, I can help in any department."
As KKR moves forward, they face the challenge of rebuilding their squad with INR 64.3 crore available - the largest purse in the upcoming auction - but only 12 players currently on their roster, leaving numerous slots to fill.
Russell's retirement closes a significant chapter for KKR, where he was instrumental in delivering two IPL titles in 2014 and 2024, and earned the IPL's Most Valuable Player award in 2019 along with 16 Player-of-the-Match honors.
